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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Flying with 1 year old

14 replies

red78hot · 11/08/2023 17:53

I need some serious advice. Currently considering a short haul holiday to Spain with an almost 14m old ( by the time we travel) .
Part of me is raring to go, and the other more sensible, practical side of me is thinking I must be off my rocker to take a 14m old on a plane and share "baby wrangling" with my dp for up to 3 hours if you allow for waiting for take off/ disembark on landing. With a bany who does not like being kept on our knees and wants to walk about now he's found his feet!
Has anyone had the guts to do this and how did you cope?!

OP posts:
alpinia · 11/08/2023 18:09

By purchasing an 'infant seat' on the plane for them and not trying to wrangle them on your lap for hours. Or begging to sit on any row that has an empty seat..Child is perfectly happy in the window seat space. Take a bag full of new to them toys and snacks and hope for the best! It goes better than I thought it would.

Girasoli · 11/08/2023 18:14

Honestly I've found flying with under 2s better than flying with 2/3 year olds who have to stay strapped in their own seats for take off and landing.

If you give milk at take off/landing the sucking will help not to get ear pain

Also the snack trolley going round will give 20mins entertainment - those instant porridge pots were my favourite DC airplane food at that age (now they just want pringles and chocolate!)

Ontheperiphery79 · 11/08/2023 18:19

My ex husband and I did it with our 13 month twins; we were fine.
I did it with both on my own a few months later; again, we were fine.

qazxc · 11/08/2023 18:31

Snacks, toys, colouring/sticker/ drawing stuff bought for the plane. Try and tire them out before boarding, I found and empty gate area and a blow up balloon did the job. If you can get them in a window seat, all the better, you can look at the airport staff, other planes, things getting smaller as plane climbs. Then seeing the tops of the clouds. Make a big excited deal of everything to ensure you get as much mileage as possible out of it. Something to suck on for take off and landing.

mynameiscalypso · 11/08/2023 18:35

If you can afford it, definitely get them a seat. They might have to be on your lap for take off and landing but having extra space makes a big difference. The first flight my DS did at a similar age, he slept the whole way through.

Original poster
red78hot · 11/08/2023 18:50

Girasoli · 11/08/2023 18:14

Honestly I've found flying with under 2s better than flying with 2/3 year olds who have to stay strapped in their own seats for take off and landing.

If you give milk at take off/landing the sucking will help not to get ear pain

Also the snack trolley going round will give 20mins entertainment - those instant porridge pots were my favourite DC airplane food at that age (now they just want pringles and chocolate!)

He does love his porridge! I'll be taking some ready made formula probably as we've not manage to get him off it or bottles yet ( despite the mum shaming "get him off bottles by 1" at his 9m development check)
And snacks, new toys, maybe pick something up at the airport too.

OP posts:
KatieB55 · 11/08/2023 18:51

There were lots of babies & toddlers on our recent flight to Spain - their parents managed!

LiveRightNow · 11/08/2023 21:37

I did long haul with both mine around this age. It's so much easier whilst they are young. The plane itself is exciting for them at that age.
The fact they are on bottles will be good as if they get dodgy tummy or anything you will be able to give them nourishment from that.
Remember something to suck on plane (bottle, dummy, toy) for their ears. Familiar snacks. And some wipes to clean around the seat area! Calpol or similar in luggage in case they do pick anything up. Have fun!

Original poster
red78hot · 12/08/2023 17:21

alpinia · 11/08/2023 18:09

By purchasing an 'infant seat' on the plane for them and not trying to wrangle them on your lap for hours. Or begging to sit on any row that has an empty seat..Child is perfectly happy in the window seat space. Take a bag full of new to them toys and snacks and hope for the best! It goes better than I thought it would.

How much was an "infant seat"? If you don't mind me asking.

OP posts:
alpinia · 12/08/2023 18:02

Depends on the airline but so far its been anything from €35 to 1/4 or 1/2 of adult ticket price. Which isn't so bad for making the flight so much easier. On flights that I haven't bought a seat I have still on all except one return flight been sat on a row with an empty third seat on request.

Holidayvibes · 12/08/2023 18:14

I had a bag packed with zipper wallets i got from Home Bargains for like 79p each. Had different activities in each one. Some duplo blocks, play dough, posting activity (we did water bottle with pom poms), wooden jigsaw tin I got on ebay. The biggest winners were magic painting and window clings which were tops I found online. She still expects window clings for every plane journey now. They don’t entertain her for anywhere near as long now but did back then. Cartoons downloaded on ipad or phone. I also took one of those compartment boxes filed with snacks like strawberries, carrot, grapes, mini crackers, chopped up granola bars and things like the fruit stars. Basically the baby snack aisle in asda in a box 🙈 We have flown since she was 3 months old and she loves flying. The toughest time was at 2.5 when she refused point blank to sit in her own seat for landing and kicked off whilst the flight attendant got pretty mad at me because she wouldn’t comply.

Holidayvibes · 12/08/2023 18:15

*tips

CeeceeBloomingdale · 12/08/2023 18:21

It’s totally fine, mine both did long haul at that age. There’s lots of things for them to look at and if it means reading the same pepperoni pig book 300 times in a row to keep them quiet the so be it.

xyz111 · 12/08/2023 18:26

I think there's an age limit on having their own seat, so check with the airline.

My DS was 1.5 when we first took him on a plane. Just take loads of toys (but nothing loud and annoying!!), download some tv shows on an iPad. And if he wants to walk around, let him. Even this year, my DS now 5 did about 5 laps of the plane walking up and down. Smiling and looking at everyone. It's no trouble then walking around and gets them moving. Try and restrict them, and that's when they're likely to kick off! 😂

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